Physiotherapy for Management of Chronic Pain

Do you live with chronic pain?

We’ve all experienced pain at some point in our lives, but imagine living with it every day.

For 1 in 5 Australians aged 45 and over, this is their reality.

National Pain Week, 24-30 July, is our opportunity to raise awareness of the 3.6 million Australians living with chronic pain.

Unless you’ve experienced chronic pain yourself, it’s hard to understand the impact it could have on every aspect of your life. For those living with chronic pain, simple day-to-day activities may be exhausting, or even impossible.

This is particularly true for the elderly and those living with disabilities. For these populations, chronic pain can greatly affect their quality of life. It acts as a barrier, hindering their ability to perform daily activities, maintain independence, and engage in social events.

Physiotherapy can play an essential role in the management of chronic pain in the elderly and those living with disabilities. That’s why, at Valens Care, we provide NDIS-funded, mobile physiotherapy care to our clients. We’re passionate about providing accessible care to those who need it most.

Table of Contents

What is Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is pain that lasts over an extended period, beyond what would otherwise be considered the normal healing time. Unlike acute pain, which is usually a response to illness or injury that resolves once the tissue is healed, chronic pain can stick around for months or even years.

Unfortunately, chronic pain is a common and complicated condition, which is experienced differently by everyone. You may feel pain in your nerves, bones, muscles or joints. Your pain could be related to an illness or condition like osteoporosis, arthritis or cancer. Your pain may arise from an injury or surgery. For some, there is no obvious cause for their chronic pain.

Living with chronic pain is more than just experiencing physical discomfort. Your pain might be accompanied by, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and mood changes, including feelings of frustration, sadness, or irritability. More than half of the Australian adults who live with chronic pain experience depression or anxiety as a result.

Chronic pain can have a significant impact on your overall well-being, affecting your quality of life and daily functioning. Tasks that were once taken for granted, like getting out of bed, walking, or even sitting for extended periods, can become challenging or even unbearable.

Chronic pain in the elderly and those living with a disability

Our likelihood of experiencing chronic pain increases as we get older. This is because older adults often have more medical conditions and degenerative conditions, like arthritis, that can lead to pain.

It’s estimated up to 80% of residents in Australian aged care facilities live with chronic pain. To further complicate the issue, approximately half of those with chronic pain remain undetected and consequently untreated, particularly in individuals who are unable to effectively communicate their pain, such as those living with dementia.

How can chronic pain physiotherapy help?

Physiotherapy for chronic pain management can help in many ways.

Assessment and diagnosis: physiotherapy management of chronic pain begins with a thorough assessment, to understand your pain and its causes. This may involve a physical examination and a review of your medical history.
Exercise prescription: your physiotherapist will tailor an exercise program for you, targeting your strength, flexibility and mobility. This program will address your specific needs and limitations and will aim to reduce pain, enhance your physical function, and support your independence with daily activities.
Manual therapy: hands-on techniques like massage and mobilisations can be used to target specific areas of pain and may help to relieve pain, reduce muscle tension and improve your joint mobility.
Education: your physiotherapist can provide guidance on pain management techniques as well as advice relating to posture correction, lifestyle modifications and assistive devices that may help to improve your pain.

The Valens Care Difference

Unfortunately, many consider pain to be a normal part of life with little possibility of improvement.

At Valens Care, we’re dedicated to providing accessible care to those living with chronic pain.

To chat about how chronic pain physiotherapy may help you, contact us today.

* All information is general and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Valens Care can consult with you regarding your individual health needs.